ablactation

The term ablactation is not recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE); therefore, it is not part of your dictionary. Its use, however, is frequent in the field of pediatrics to refer to gradual process that allows the inclusion of other foods beyond breast milk in a child's diet.

Ablactation, in this way, allows the baby start receiving other nutrients that are not present in the mother's milk, beyond the great importance that this food has for the growth of children. It is a procedure that is part of the natural growth of the human being.

Ablactation usually begins when the baby is between four Y six months of life. The launch of the processIn any case, it depends on the indications made by the pediatrician according to the physical characteristics of the baby.

Broadly speaking, it can be said that the doctor usually suggests the start of ablactation when the child no longer has the extrusion reflection (which leads him to expel the solid elements that are inside his mouth) and shows a production of saliva confirming that your digestive system can already receive other types of food in addition to breast milk. The baby, on the other hand, must have the ability to sit up and control the movements of his head.

Offer one food at a time, allow him to get used to the texture and consistency and not forcing him to eat are some of the suggestions made by specialists for ablactation to be successful.

Since ablactation is a change important of the characteristics of children's feeding, it is necessary to take into account that carries certain immunological, microbiological, nutritional and even psychological adjustments. Precisely, it is not a process by which breastfeeding is abruptly interrupted to switch to other products, but there must be a smooth and supervised transition at all times.

Among the reasons why mothers should not stop breastfeeding their children during the ablactation process are some Benefits, in addition to the contribution of nutrients, such as a greater stimulation of digestion and an increase in defenses against various infectious diseases that usually appear at this stage. In short, breastfeeding the child while adding solid foods is the best combination to achieve good physical and psychological development.

There are certain basic rules that most health professionals Health They recommend mothers to respect throughout the ablactation process:

* In addition to not adding more than one food at a time, it is important not to mix them;

* Give your child two to three days to get used to each new food. At the same time, this serves to ensure that the tolerate Correctly;

* Related to the previous step, if there is a rejection of a particular food, then we must leave it and try another. The same is true of proportions;

* give the child breast milk first and then soft food;

* ablactation must include foods of natural origin. For example, it is important to avoid products that contain flavorings, preservatives and colorants;

* When cooking solid and semi-solid foods, we must dispense with any type of seasoning, such as salt and sugar;

* ensure that new foods are kept at room temperature, since hot or cold can generate rejection or even difficulties in carrying out the digestion.